Ventilating fan for windows



Nov. 7, 1950 H. MORRISON 2,5299040 VENTILATING FAN FOR WINDOWS Filed Aug. 3, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 7, 1950 H. MORRISON VENTILATING FAN FOR wnmows 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 3,. 1945 Patented Nov. 7, 1950 T 2,529,040 VENTILATING FAN FOR WINDOWS Hackley Morrison, Houston, Tex., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Hackley Morrison, Jr.

Application August 3, 1945, Serial No. 608,772

3 Claims.

This invention relates to ventilating fans and more particularly to fans adapted to be mounted within the space normally occupied by the lower :sash of an ordinary two-sash window.

In the use of fans of this character, it is desirable to employ fans having a blade circle as nearly as possible equal to the width of the window, in order to secure maximum efficiency.

Most windows, however, as ordinarily constructed, have a width somewhat greater than the distance between the sill and the lower edge of the upper sash when fully open, and for this reason, if a fan having a blade circle substantially equal to the width of the window be employed, and the fan be set, as is usually the case, to just clear the window sill, then the upper part of the blade circle will overlap the lower edge of the open bottom sash, thus decreasing the efficiency of the fan.

It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide a ventilating fan for windows such as above described, so constructed as to reduce to a minimum the extent of overlapping of the lower edge of the sash by the blade circle.

Stated in another way, an object of the invention is to devise means for so mounting the fan as to support the fan shaft at a point substantially midway between the sill and the lower edge of the sash, so that the overlapping of the blade circle is substantially equally divided between the sill and the lower edge of the sash.

Ventilating fans of the character referred to are usually mounted in a rigid frame, and it is customary to support this frame on the window sill itself. Where a substantially square frame is employed, and where the width of the window is greater than the distance between the sill and the lower edge of the sash, this results in the fan shaft being disposed at a point nearer the edge of the sash than the sill, thus producing an undesirable overlap of the blade circle on the sash.

In order to avoid this, while employing the usual square frame, I contemplate the provision of means for supporting this frame in such a manner that its lower portion depends below the sill. In this way, I am enabled to bring the fan shaft down to a point where it lies substantially midway between the sill and the lower edge of the sash, thus dividing the overlap between the top and bottom of the blade circle, whereby the area of overlap is substantially reduced.

My invention is particularly applicable to fans of the type in which a relatively small motor is mounted in one corner of the frame and drives the fan by means of a belt and pulleys. Another object of the invention is therefore to provide a construction in which the fan frame comprises a portion depending below the sill, and in which the motor is housed within this depending portion.

A further object of the invention is to devise adjustable means for supporting the fan frame on the window sill, whereby the frame may be adjusted to any one of several different vertical positions, as required.

A still further object of the invention is to devise simple and efficient means for anchoring the fan frame to the window casing, this anchoring means being so constructed that the same frame may be applied to windows varying considerably in width.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a fan frame of improved construction which shall be exceptionally rigid and free from vibration.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved ventilating fan as it appears when mounted in position on a window sill.

Fig. 2 is an edge elevation thereof on an enlarged scale, parts being broken away.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary transverse section substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2,1ooking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation on a somewhat larger scale of the fan shown in Fig. 1, the guard being omitted for the sake of clearness, and

Fig. 5 is a transverse section substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A designates the usual window casing or trim and B indicates the usual sill. The lower sash is indicated at C.

My improved fan comprises a rectangular frame I consisting of a pair of spaced parallel bafile plates 2, having outturned marginal flanges 3 secured to a rim member 4. This projects laterally beyond the baffle plates and is provided with an inturned peripheral flange 5 on each side. Thus the frame is of substantial thickness, from front to back. Extending through the registering openings in the baffle plates 2, and bridging the space between said plates, is an annular member or funnel 6 having peripheral radial flanges 6a overlapping and secured to the edges of the bafile plates as best shown in Fig. 3.

The construction of this fan frame, including the baffle plates and funnel. is generally similar to i it inside of the window frame.

that shown and described in my prior Patent No. 2,385,152, dated September 18, 1945, but differs therefrom in certain details.

The fan itself is shown as comprising four blades 1 carried by a hub or spider secured to a. shaft 8, this shaft being journaled in bearings carried by cross bars 9 attached to brackets l secured to the frame I.

A grille or guard I2, consisting of woven wire, expanded metal or the like, mounted in a frame, is preferably provided on the inside of the win- (low to prevent accidental contact with the fan, and this is mounted on brackets ll carried by the frame I, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

Adjacent one corner of the frame 1, the baffle plates 2 are cut away as shown at 43 in Fig. 4 to provide a pocket in which is mounted a suitable electric motor ]4, having an extension cord [4a by which it may be connected with a source of current. 'About a pulley on this motor shaft and -a suitable pulley IE on the fan shaft, runs an endless belt !5 by which the fan is driven, as in my above mentioned prior co-pending application.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the lower part of the frame I, adjacent the side or face which fits against the window, is cut away or notched out through part of its thickness as indicated at I1, to accommodate the sill B and a vertically adjustable bracket !8 is secured to each side of the frame adjacent the notched out portion, to constitute means by which the frame is supported on the sill. The bracket !5 has a series of vertically spaced holes l9, and a pair of similarly spaced holes are formed in the frame, so that when any two of the holes i9 are brought into registry with theholes in the frame, screws or bolts 20 may be passed through the registering holes and the bracket I8 secured in any desired position relative to the frame.

The lower end of the bracket 18 is bent at right angles to form a foot 2| as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, and a rubber cushion 22 is preferably attached to the lower side ofthis foot so that it may rest upon the sill as shown in Fig. 2.

It will now be understood, by reference to the :drawings, thatthe frame I, which is preferably substantially square. is of a width somewhat greater than the width of the window, with the result that the frame overlaps the window casing A as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5. This is in contrast to the usual method of making the frame of adjustable width and attempting to fit In my improved construction the frame is entirel rigid, and, because it is constructed to overlap the window casing, may be used with different windows which vary considerably in width.

An important feature of my invention is the improved means for anchoring the frame. in position on the window. This improved means,

1 as best shown in Fig. 2, comprises atie rod '23 having a hook or the like at one end. adapted to fit into a hole 2% in the rim '2 constituting the thick edge of the fan frame, and having at its other end an eye through which a screw .25 may be passed into the edge of the window casing .A. The rod 23 is formed in two sections connected by a turn buckle '26, .so that its length may :be varied as desired. It will be noted that the hole 2 in which the tie rod engages is remote from the face of the frame abutting the window casin an th t t ct'r-ercnd of tie rod attached 'to the windowcasingat a point spaced 4 laterally from the edge of the frame, so that the tie rod extends diagonally from the frame to the casing, as shown in Fig. 1. One purpose of this is to afford a space in which the turn buckle may be freely manipulated.

In mounting my improved fan in position on :a window, all that it is necessar to do is to set the rubber cushions 22 on the window sill, as shown in Fig. 2, and then anchorthe'frame to the window casing by means of the tie rods 23. Only a single such tie rod is required at each lateral edge and this should be spaced someing which will absorb vibrations and render thefan exceptionally quiet in operation.

Referring .to Fig. 4, the top of the sill. is indi-' cated at b and the lower edge ofthe sash C, fully opened, is indicated at c. From this figure it will be seen that the amount of overlap of the blade circle with respect to the top of the silland lower edge of the sash respectively, is

substantially the same, and'that this overlap inv each case is relatively small. In other words, the

fan shaft 8 is located substantially midway be-' tween the top 19 of the sill and the bottom :0 of the sash. I

..If the lower side of the frame 1 rested directly on the sill, as has been thewusual prior practice, the fan shaft would be located much nearer the edge a of the sash than the sillrwith the result that there would be a relativel iilarge overlap of the blade .circle on thesash, and the area of this overlap would obviousl be much greater than the aggregate of the areas of the relatively small upper and lower overlaps in my improved design.

It will therefore be appreciated that although I employ a square frame, and although I pre-- serve the advantage of a blade circle having a diameter substantially equal to the full width of the window, I achieve the above mentioned centering of the fan shaft andequalizing of the upper and lower overlap areas by the expedient 'of notching out the frameas shown in Fig. 2 so that the lower portion thereof depends below the sill, in contrast to resting on it; Moreover, it willadvantages of my improved arrangement over what has been the usual practice'will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art.

What I claim is: I I i l. .A window fan comprising a' rectangular frame, a fan centrally mounted in said frame' and having a diameter greater than the-distance between the window sill and lower edge-of the bottom sash when fully open, but no greater than the width of the window opening and 'means for supporting said frame on the window sill in suchposition :thatthe blade circle overlaps saids'ill and the lower edge of said sashto substantialiy the same extent.

2. Av ventilating fan for windows having a Width somewhat greater than the distance from the sill to the lower edge of the bottom sash when full open, the blade circle of said fan being of a diameter substantially equal to the width of the window, and means for supporting said fan on the window sill in such position that said blade circle overlaps the sill and lower edge of the upper sash to substantially the same extent.

3. A Window fan comprising a rectangular frame, a fan and motor mounted in said frame means for securing one face of said frame against the window casing, the lower portion of said frame adjacent said -face being notched out throughout its width, and adjustable means mounted in said notched out portion and adapted to rest on the window sill for supporting said frame at any one of several diiferent vertical positions.

HACKLEY MORRISON.

6 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

